Thoughts for the Week

The Bible gives away how the world ends in the book of Revelation. Ultimately, the book can be summed up in one thought: The bad guys lose, and the good guys win forever.

On our way to life’s finale, we can easily become depressed, discouraged, or feel despair. But I was encouraged recently by the intimate word picture given when Satan and his horde are defeated, and God comes to his people.

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4, NIV).

The most striking feature of this passage is how God himself wipes away his people’s tears. One has to be physically and emotionally close to another to wipe away someone else’s tears; it’s a tender experience. God here is not depicted as a distant and aloof ruler, but as a close, loving Father who wants to heal the hurts of his beloved children.

Life is full of reasons to cry. Just remember that at the end of it, there’s a tenderhearted Father waiting for you to come home, so he can finally wipe away your tears for good.